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"Endal", a five-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever and Mr. Parton's inseparable companion, certainly proved his
loyalty that day and demonstrated the unique partnership between dog
and human.
Mr. Parton describes the moments just before the speeding car
hit: "I realized he [Endal] was between me and the car so I got hold
of him and pushed him backwards out of the way." Endal,
who was spared being struck, took care of Mr. Parton and then ran back and forth to a nearby hotel,
barking until people came out
to help.  For his outstanding actions in a
life-threatening situation, the amazing dog was recently awarded the
PDSA
Gold Medal for Animal Gallantry and Devotion to Duty, an honor
hailed as "the animals' equivalent of the George Cross".
But although
the crisis may not have been an average day for  Endal, it was
really just all
in a day's work. The incredible canine, schooled at Canine
Partners for Independence, has been Mr. Parton's "right
side" for years following a tragic accident in 1991.  Since
then, Endal has been Allen's guardian, therapist, valet, banker, travel agent,
grocer and laundry service, among other things.
 Many
of these tasks Endal was never trained to do but simply taught
himself when he saw the need arise. "He buys the ticket
on the bus and collects the ticket from the machine," says
Allen. "He was not trained to do this."
What's
that worth in emotional terms? Maybe you should hear it from Allen
himself. The stirring piece at right was graciously submitted to
DogsInTheNews.com by Allen Parton (with, undoubtedly, a little help
from Endal). To learn more about Endal and Allen's incredible partnership and see pictures of the
wonderdog in action, visit "Endal"
- The Dog of the Millennium (www.milleniumdog.freeserve.co.uk). P.S.
Endal, if you're listening, here's one for you:
|
Have You Heard
the One About the Smart Dog? |
| A dog walks into a grocery
store, picks out some bread, apples and a newspaper and
proceeds to the checkout counter.
The amused clerk decides to play along and says, "That'll
be £1.89, please."
To the clerk's surprise, the dog counts out exactly
£1. 89 and places it on the counter before leaving
with the bag of groceries.
Amazed, the clerk follows the dog down the street, watching the
dog stop at every crosswalk and obey every traffic signal.
A few blocks later, the dog arrives at a house, puts down the
bag of groceries and scratches at the front door. A man comes out
and starts scolding the dog.
The clerk runs up and says, "What are you doing?
This has got to be the smartest dog in the world!"
"Smart?" says the man, shaking his head.
"This is the third time this week he's forgotten his
keys!"
|
|
|
Endal -
Like a Shining Star
by Allen G. Parton It
was while serving in the Royal Navy during the Gulf War in
1991 that I was involved in a road accident. The
serious head injury I sustained led me to be in
hospital/rehab for the following five years. The
sum of my condition was that I could not recall
getting married, the birth of my children and I had lost
about 50% of my history (none of which has ever come
back!). My speech was awful and my behavior
bizarre. My memory then and now lasts about two days
and I'm dependent on a wheelchair for mobility.
Because of my own self pity, anger and bitterness I was
stuck in the darkest soulless place a person can ever be—void
of any hope! Without the emotions Love, Hate,
Happiness or Sadness I was beyond human help, even out of
the reach of my loving wife and two young children. I
defended myself from people by being horrible and rude; that
way I could be left alone.  One
dog cut right through that defensive armor and saw the real
Allen Parton. Like a shining star, Endal came bounding
into that dark place and touched my very heart.
He just said to me with those doggie eyes, "hold onto
my tail and I'll pull you out of here, at your pace and with
no conditions."
| "I
was just a blob in a wheelchair. Endal hit that switch and
brought me back to myself." |
He has to this day never stopped
pulling. His unconditional love has healed so many of the
hurts; his mischief making brought laughter into my saddest days and
his zest for life has rubbed off on to me.
 He
never judges me, he never looks away because of my condition and his
aiding of me when I at my weakest makes us both an invincible team.
I can put my hand out to my side day or night and he is always
there. He has taught me to love, laugh and live again.
|
"Til dog do us part"
We're not sure if Endal caught the bouquet last Saturday when Allen
and Sandra Parton reaffirmed their wedding vows, but he was an
essential part of the emotional ceremony. Allen says,
"There wasn't a dry eye in the room." —and, from the
looks of it, one very wet nose. (All photos courtesy of A. Parton / Millennium
Dog)
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